Scene 3

Rome. A room in Martius Coriolanus’ house.

(Volumnia; Virgilia; Gentlewoman; Valeria; Usher)

Virgilia, Martius’s wife, is terrified that he might die in the wars. Volumnia, his mother, has no patience for this wimpy way of looking at the world. The good lady Valeria tries to shake Virgilia out of her despondency, insisting she continue to live a normal life in Martius’s absence, but is unsuccessful. (57 lines)

Enter Volumnia and Virgilia, mother and wife to Martius; they set them down on two low stools and sew.

VOL.VOLUMNIA

I pray you, daughter, sing, or express yourself in a more comfortable sort. If my son were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he won honor than in the embracements of his bed where he would show most love. When yet he was but tender-bodied and the only son of my womb; when youth with comeliness pluck’d all gaze his way; when for a day of kings’ entreaties a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding; I, considering how honor would become such a person, that it was no better than picture-like to hang by th’ wall, if renown made it not stir, was pleas’d to let him seek danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him, from whence he return’d, his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child than now in first seeing he had prov’d himself a man.

VIR.VIRGILIA

But had he died in the business, madam, how then?

VOL.VOLUMNIA

Then his good report should have been my son; I therein would have found issue. Hear me profess sincerely; had I a dozen sons, each in my love alike, and none less dear than thine and my good Martius, I had rather had eleven die nobly for their country than one voluptuously surfeit out of action.

Enter a Gentlewoman.

GENT.GENTLEWOMAN

Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you.

VIR.VIRGILIA

Beseech you give me leave to retire myself.

VOL.VOLUMNIA

Indeed you shall not.

Methinks I hear hither your husband’s drum;

See him pluck Aufidius down by th’ hair;

As children from a bear, the Volsces shunning him.

Methinks I see him stamp thus, and call thus:

“Come on, you cowards, you were got in fear,

Though you were born in Rome!” His bloody brow

With his mail’d hand then wiping, forth he goes,

Like to a harvest-man that’s task’d to mow

Or all or lose his hire.

VIR.VIRGILIA

His bloody brow? O Jupiter, no blood!

VOL.VOLUMNIA

Away, you fool! It more becomes a man

Than gilt his trophy. The breasts of Hecuba,

When she did suckle Hector, look’d not lovelier

Than Hector’s forehead when it spit forth blood

At Grecian sword, contemning. Tell Valeria

We are fit to bid her welcome.

Exit Gentlewoman.

VIR.VIRGILIA

Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius!

VOL.VOLUMNIA

He’ll beat Aufidius’ head below his knee,

And tread upon his neck.

Enter Valeria with an Usher and a Gentlewoman.

VAL.VALERIA

My ladies both, good day to you.

VOL.VOLUMNIA

Sweet madam.

VIR.VIRGILIA

I am glad to see your ladyship.

VAL.VALERIA

How do you both? You are manifest house-keepers. What are you sewing here? A fine spot, in good faith. How does your little son?

VIR.VIRGILIA

I thank your ladyship; well, good madam.

VOL.VOLUMNIA

He had rather see the swords and hear a drum than look upon his schoolmaster.

VAL.VALERIA

A’ my word, the father’s son. I’ll swear ’tis a very pretty boy. A’ my troth, I look’d upon him a’ We’n’sday half an hour together; h’as such a confirm’d countenance. I saw him run after a gilded butterfly, and when he caught it, he let it go again, and after it again, and over and over he comes, and up again; catch’d it again: or whether his fallen rag’d him, or how ’twas, he did so set his teeth and tear it. O, I warrant, how he mammock’d it!

VOL.VOLUMNIA

One on ’s father’s moods.

VAL.VALERIA

Indeed la, ’tis a noble child.

VIR.VIRGILIA

A crack, madam.

VAL.VALERIA

Come, lay aside your stitchery, I must have you play the idle huswife with me this afternoon.

VIR.VIRGILIA

No, good madam, I will not out of doors.

VAL.VALERIA

Not out of doors?

VOL.VOLUMNIA

She shall, she shall.

VIR.VIRGILIA

Indeed no, by your patience; I’ll not over the threshold till my lord return from the wars.

VAL.VALERIA

Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably. Come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in.

VIR.VIRGILIA

I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with my prayers; but I cannot go thither.

VOL.VOLUMNIA

Why, I pray you?

VIR.VIRGILIA

’Tis not to save labor, nor that I want love.

VAL.VALERIA

You would be another Penelope: yet they say, all the yarn she spun in Ulysses’ absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come, I would your cambric were sensible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us.

VIR.VIRGILIA

No, good madam, pardon me, indeed I will not forth.

VAL.VALERIA

In truth la, go with me, and I’ll tell you excellent news of your husband.

VIR.VIRGILIA

O, good madam, there can be none yet.

VAL.VALERIA

Verily, I do not jest with you; there came news from him last night.

VIR.VIRGILIA

Indeed, madam?

VAL.VALERIA

In earnest, it’s true; I heard a senator speak it. Thus it is: the Volsces have an army forth; against whom Cominius the general is gone, with one part of our Roman power. Your lord and Titus Lartius are set down before their city Corioles; they nothing doubt prevailing, and to make it brief wars. This is true, on mine honor, and so I pray go with us.

VIR.VIRGILIA

Give me excuse, good madam, I will obey you in every thing hereafter.

VOL.VOLUMNIA

Let her alone, lady; as she is now, she will but disease our better mirth.

VAL.VALERIA

In troth, I think she would. Fare you well then. Come, good sweet lady. Prithee, Virgilia, turn thy solemnness out a’ door, and go along with us.